By Brea Cannon
Liturgical Rhythm of Life
Happy Easter! Hopefully the chocolate bunnies have been eaten and the lawn mower has not found too many hidden Easter eggs.
From Easter Sunday to Pentecost, we find ourselves in the Easter season, sometimes called Eastertide. Of the six liturgical seasons, Advent, Christmas, Lent, Triduum, Easter and Ordinary Time, Easter is the longest at 50 days and varies in dates due to the date of Easter. The season is intended to be a time of joy, thanksgiving and feasting. Just as all liturgical seasons can be celebrated at home, Easter is no different. In fact, in a 2018 Holy Saturday homily, the late Pope Francis stated, “To celebrate Easter is to allow Jesus to triumph.”
Whether you are new to celebrating the liturgy at home or have lived it for years, this jubilee year is a great time to sing Alleluia and keep the Easter season alive for all 50 days. In addition to keeping the Easter decorations up until Pentecost, here are some other ways to live the liturgical season at home:
Maintain holy habits from Lent: Don’t stop now! Remain steadfast in Lenten observances that draw you closer to God.
Pray the Regina Ceili: During the Easter season, this prayer replaces the Angelus at 6 a.m., noon and 6 p.m.
Celebrate each Sunday: The Easter season has eight Sundays: Easter Sunday, Divine Mercy Sunday, 3rd Sunday of Easter, Good Shepherd Sunday, 5th, 6th and 7th Easter Sundays, and, finally, Pentecost Sunday. Some of these Sundays may have passed, but each and all have significant meaning, so plan something special for each of the days. Plan to make an extra holy hour personally or as a family, pray, have a game night as a family or have a picnic on a pretty Sunday. The celebration does not have to be on a large scale, just make it intentional.
Observe Rogation Days: There is a major rogation day on the feast of St. Mark, April 24, and minor rogation days that take place the Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday preceding Ascension Thursday. These days are set aside to pray and abstain during planting season in hopes of a fruitful harvest. Pray and ask the Lord to bless your garden and the crops of local farmers.
Dedicate May to Mary: Create a space in your home with an image of Jesus and Mary for reflection on a relationship to Jesus through Mary. Plant a Mary Garden. Have a May Crowning to crown Mary as queen and mother. Keep fresh flowers in your home. Take some special moments in the month to pray all four mysteries of the rosary.
Celebrate the Ascension and begin the Holy Spirit novena: Jesus returned to the Father 40 days after the Resurrection. This always falls on a Thursday, and in our diocese it is transferred to the seventh Sunday of Easter. Get outside on this day, have a picnic, look to the sky and imagine our eternal home with our Lord. From the Friday after the Ascension to Pentecost, nine days, Mary and the Apostles waited in the Upper Room for the Advocate Jesus had promised to send. These days of prayer were the first novena, a prayer that is typically prayed for nine days. The Friday after the Ascension is the start of the Holy Spirit novena. This is a powerful novena that leads to the coming of the Holy Spirit and the birthday of the Church!
Party and Pray on Pentecost Sunday: Come, Holy Spirit, come. Pentecost brings the end to the Easter season. As the Apostles and Mary waited in the Upper Room, the Holy Spirit came in tongues of fire and rested above each individual. Wear red on this day, it is the liturgical color for Pentecost; priests are vested in red to symbolize the tongues of fire from the Holy Spirit. Pentecost is the birthday of the Church — have a birthday party with cake and desserts. Celebrate the day the apostles’ public ministry began and the 3,000 who were baptized — renew your baptismal promises.
The Easter Season certainly does not end on Easter Sunday or even after the Easter octave. It is a season filled with hope and light. It is not too late to celebrate Easter this year and to live in the hope of the Resurrection as Easter people all year long.